On 18 January 2018, an oil spill occurred at 3:30 p.m. at the Kuibyshev – Tikhoretsk oil trunk pipeline near the village of Krasnoarmeiskoye, Engels District of Saratov Region. The reasons are being clarified.

The spilled oil volume amounted to ca. 900 m3. The oil spill area represents a 1.5 km strip. The accident took place not far from the river Volga now covered with 6 inch thick ice, so oil just cannot penetrate the water body, especially since a line of booms is set up to ensure environmental safety.

Throwaway fire from an unidentified external source resulted in an ignition which spread to two residential buildings at the outskirts of Krasnoarmeiskoye village.

The employees of Transneft Volga Region timely evacuated the residents and organized works to localize the fire in no time. As a result of personnel’s concerted and skilled action, the combustion at the village outskirts was put out. There are no victims among the local population and the Company keeps working on the resettlement of those whose dwellings were damaged by fire.

The ignition brought about a halt of oil transportation over the Kuibyshev – Tikhoretsk OTP. At present, emergency response measures are being taken to address the consequences of oil spill and fire. Reinforced emergency response crews along with specialized vehicles and equipment were expeditiously sent to Krasnoarmeiskoye village by Transneft Volga Region, Transneft Kama Region, Transneft Druzhba and Chernomortransneft; there are ample human, technical and material resources on the site.

An on-site emergency response headquarters has been set up, local authorities are engaged along with regional EMERCOM and other services. The environmental situation on the oil spill site as well as on the water body of the river Volga is constantly monitored.